Rail chair and brace



(No Model.)

J. 0. BLACKBURN. RAIL CHAIR AND BRAGB.

No. 565,830. Patented Aug. 11, 1896.

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NITED STATES JOHN O. BLACKBURN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL CHAIR AND BRACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,830, dated August 11, 1896.

Application filed April 23, 1896.

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN O. BLACKBURN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Ties and Fastenings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rail chairs and braces, and has for its object to construct a chair that will effectually prevent the rails from spread ing and that will also dispense with the ordinary fish-plates and bolts employed for securing the rails.

A further object of the invention is to construct a chair and brace that will hold the rails firmly in position, and that will be extremely simple in its construction, strong, durable effectual in its operation, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention finally consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangements of parts, to be hereinafter more specifically described, and particularly pointed out, in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, andwherein like letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views,in which Figure 1 is a plan view of aportion of track with my improved chair and brace in position. Fig. 2 is a side view showing the rails in position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of my improved chair and brace. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the locking-wedge. Fig. 5 is a .similar view of the wedge-brace 011 the inner face of the rail. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the wedge-brace employed on the opposite rail.

Serial No. 588,798. (No model.)

as a substitute for the fish-plates. One of these projections is of the same width as the tie, while the other end of the tie is adapted to be of a greater width and the projections widened accordingly to engage the two ends of the rails.

The tie is formed with an oblong slot 0, extending in alinement therewith and terminating in slots d d, at each end forming flanges c c to receive the slide f of the clips g. These clips are constructed to conform with the projections b b, and the tie is formed with projections or flanges h h at the large end to receive the flanges i 2' of the larger clip g. A clip j is adapted to fit in the slotc and engage the ends of the two inner edges to hold the same firmly against the rails.

The operation of my improved tie and fastenings will be readily apparent from the views of the same that I have shown in the drawings.

The tie is placed in under the rails with the wide ends engaging the two rails, and the base of the rail is shoved beneath the projection Z), so that the projection will abut against the rails and act as a fish-plate, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, while the smaller projection will engage on the outer face of the opposite rail. The large clip is then inserted in the slots and shoved against the inner face of the two rails, and the smaller clip inserted in a similar manner against the opposite rail, when the clip j is placed in the slot 0 between the clips and holds the same firmly in position.

It will be observed that the joints of the rails are not made opposite to each other, which is fully illustrated in Fig. l'of the drawings, the smaller projection and clip always engaging the one rail and the larger projection and clip engaging the two rails, so as to brace the same firmly.

By this construction of a brace and chair it will be noted that it will firmly support the rails in a perfectly level position at the joints with the balance of the same, and also that it will be practically impossible for the rails to spread and allow the train to leave the rails, as is now often the case; furthermore, it will be easily placed in position. It will be noted that this and various other changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, a tie having formed near each end inclined projections forming under cuts to receive the flange of the rail, and provided centrally with an oblong slot terminating in slots of reduced dimensions, flanges formed on the separated portions of the tie, and in combination a wedge-clip having a central T-shaped tongue and side flanges, another wedge-brace with a central T-shaped tongue and a central wedge for engaging the ends of the outer wedges, as and for the purpose described.

JOHN O. BLACKBURN.

Witnesses ALFRED M. WILsoN, H. E. SEIBERT. 

